SM's Hearts2Hearts Win Dual Honors at KGMA 2025, Indonesian Member Carmen Makes History

SM Entertainment's rookie girl group Hearts2Hearts scored two major wins at the 2025 Korea Grand Music Awards on November 15, securing both the IS Rising Star trophy and an individual honor for Indonesian member Carmen.

The eight-member group shared the IS Rising Star award with fellow rookies IDID and KickFlip at Inspire Arena in Incheon. Carmen separately claimed the Trend of the Year (Rookie) category through fan voting, becoming the first Indonesian idol under SM Entertainment to receive an individual award at a major Korean music ceremony.

"My heart was racing when they called our name," Jiwoo said about the group win. "We owe everything to our members, our staff, and especially Hatchu (the group's fandom). This was the most incredible day of our lives."

The emotional victory resonated particularly with Ian, who reflected on the rarity of the moment: "It's a once-in-a-lifetime award, so we really wanted it. Even after walking off stage, we kept asking each other 'Did we actually win?' We were just that happy."

Carmen's Milestone Achievement

Carmen's Trend of the Year (Rookie) win marks a significant breakthrough for Southeast Asian representation in K-pop. The Bali-born performer earned the honor through global fan voting, sharing the Trend of the Year category with BTS member V, who won in the solo artist segment.

"This is my first individual award ever," Carmen shared with her signature bright smile. "Hatchu gives us miraculous moments like this every single day."

The recognition arrives less than 10 months after Hearts2Hearts debuted on February 24, 2025 with their single album "The Chase." The group's rapid rise has drawn comparisons to their SM Entertainment predecessors, particularly Girls' Generation-the last multi-member girl group SM debuted 18 years ago.

Girls' Generation DNA Meets 2025 Sound

Beyond the similar eight-member lineup, Hearts2Hearts channels their senior group's precision choreography and what members describe as "visual center-quality" looks across the entire roster. But their musical identity leans distinctly contemporary, blending Y2K pop influences with hyperpop, UK garage, and minimal electronic elements.

Their KGMA performance of "Focus"-the title track from their first mini-album released in October-exemplified this approach. Dressed in understated black and white, the group commanded the stage for three minutes through pure performance skill, without elaborate stage effects.

"We wanted the black-and-white concept to highlight our choreography precision," member Yuha explained. "One fan commented that we looked like 'piano keys coming to life,' and we couldn't stop laughing and celebrating when we saw that."

The performance video has surpassed 100,000 views on KGMA's official YouTube channel, ranking sixth among 31 performing artists at the ceremony.

Beyond Hearts2Hearts, the ceremony featured performances from Stray Kids, BTOB, LUCY, Suho, IVE, and fromis_9. Members singled out three-time winner Suho's performance as particularly memorable.

"Suho sunbaenim performed 'Light The Fire' and 'Who Are You,' and his vocals just filled the entire venue by himself-it was amazing," A-na recalled. "What really impressed us was how he genuinely enjoyed everyone else's performances even though he was sitting alone in the artist section."

Commercial Success Backs Critical Recognition

The awards validate Hearts2Hearts' impressive commercial trajectory. Their debut single "The Chase" sold 408,880 copies in its first week according to Hanteo Chart, setting the highest first-week sales record for any girl group debut album-surpassing BABYMONSTER's previous record of 401,287 copies.

Their June digital single "Style" reached No. 26 on Melon's daily chart and topped Billboard Japan's Heatseekers Songs chart, demonstrating crossover appeal. The track maintained four consecutive weeks in Circle Chart's weekly top 20.

October's "Focus" mini-album continues building momentum. The title track entered major Korean streaming platforms' top 100 upon release, while its music video crossed 10 million views within 48 hours.

"If 2025 was about introducing Hearts2Hearts to the world, early 2026 will show our brighter, age-appropriate side," member Juun previewed. "We're working on new signature moments like the 'Magnesium Deficiency Part' and 'Fleasha Fleshu' that fans can cheer for at every stage."

Rigorous Training Drives Results

The group's success stems from what members describe as an uncompromising practice regimen. "In the dorms, we're like best friends from high school," Ye-on explained. "But during feedback sessions, we're brutally honest with each other-no holding back."

Ian detailed their grueling schedule: "Team practice runs 10 AM to 10 PM, then I do individual practice until 5 AM. Every single stage matters to us." She added their ambitious goal: "Next year, we want to build a foundation strong enough to reach stages like Tokyo Dome."

The group's immediate schedule reflects growing international demand. Their first fan meeting "Hearts to House" sold out both days (February 21-22, 2026) at Seoul's Olympic Hall immediately after tickets went on sale.

Following the Seoul events, Hearts2Hearts launches their North American premiere showcase tour with stops in New York on March 19 and Los Angeles on March 22, before heading to Jakarta, Indonesia on March 28-coinciding with Carmen's birthday.

"This is our first North American tour since debut, so it feels incredibly special," the members said. "We'll keep working hard next year while staying true to who we are. We wish everyone health and happiness in the new year."

Member Stella summed up the group's outlook following their KGMA wins: "We'll use the responsibility from these rookie awards as motivation. 2026 will be the year we show the world an evolved version of Hearts2Hearts."